HBA-SEB S.B. 258 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 258
By: West
Public Health
4/20/1999
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, prisoners of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) are
not considered to be employees for purposes of the Hazard Communication
Act.  As a result, inmates are not required to be protected from hazardous
chemicals in the workplace.  S.B. 258 requires TDCJ to provide protections
from exposure to hazardous chemicals to a person imprisoned in a facility
operated by or for TDCJ.   

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 502, Health and Safety Code, by adding Section
502.020, as follows: 

Sec. 502.020.  WORKPLACE SAFETY FOR INMATES.  Provides that a person
imprisoned in a facility operated by or for the Texas Department of
Criminal Justice (TDCJ) is not an employee for the purposes of this chapter
(Hazard Communication Act).  Requires TDCJ to provide an inmate of TDCJ
protection from exposure to hazardous chemicals in the workplace. 

SECTION 2.Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.